Dog Eat Dog
With no money to spend and no elections to win, Utah lawmakers went to work tightening their leash on the state.
BY BENJAMIN WOOD
S AP
BOX
Qualified Immunity
The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees “equal protection of the laws,” a principle fundamental to American democracy. Yet, qualified immunity—a judicially created doctrine shielding public officials from liability—stands in direct contradiction to this promise.
It does not protect citizens equally; it protects the government from accountability. Worse, in an era of disinformation and electoral dysfunction, it provides the tools to undermine our democracy.
At its core, qualified immunity grants
government officials—primarily law enforcement—a legal shield against lawsuits, unless plaintiffs can prove their rights were violated in a way that has been “clearly established” in previous case law. The problem? The courts have demonstrated that this threshold was set with the intent to be ambiguous, to protect themselves and not the people.
The issue becomes even more insidious when viewed through the lens of electoral politics. Because qualified immunity disproportionately affects certain populations—particularly communities of color—it distorts democratic representation.
Law enforcement policies that disproportionately target minority communities go unchecked because victims have no legal recourse.
In a system where the Electoral College already dilutes the political power of urban, diverse populations in favor of rural, less diverse ones, qualified immunity exacerbates the imbalance.
It effectively sets the tools for the government to suppress certain voters while shielding itself from consequences.
This is not abstract theory—it’s happening now. States with high-profile police abuses (George Floyd in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky) are also states where political representation is skewed by the Electoral College.
The same system that allows minority votes to be structurally weaker also permits law enforcement to operate without accountability.
This is not equal protection; it is government-sanctioned impunity.
James Madison warned that tyranny begins when power goes unchecked. In an era of rampant disinformation, where many Americans question the legitimacy of elections and institutions, trust in government is already fragile.
Qualified immunity accelerates this erosion by proving, time and again, that officials are not held to the same standards as the citizens they serve.
This is not just a legal issue; it is a democratic crisis. When citizens lack legal recourse against state abuses, faith in democracy crumbles. And when faith in democracy crumbles, authoritarian alterna-
tives begin to look appealing. This is how democratic backsliding begins—not with grand declarations, but with small, technical rulings that quietly strip citizens of their rights.
If democracy is to survive, qualified immunity must go. It is not a safeguard; it is a threat.
And in a country built on the idea that no one is above the law, its very existence is unconstitutional.
BRENDAN RYAN Salt Lake City
“Reverse Gear,” March 6 Online
SLC, Summit County, unions, every single city and town in Utah … who hasn’t Senate President Stuart Adams and the Legislature picked a fight with this week?
NOSEITALLINC Via Instagram
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THE WATER COOLER
If you could live anywhere in the world (not USA), where would you go
Pete Saltas
Anybody that says a country other than Greece is a liar.
Bryan Bale
If I seriously had to move somewhere, it would be difficult for me to decide. I think I’d have to go try several before I could settle on one. Maybe I’d end up adopting a nomadic lifestyle.
Benjamin Wood
Probably the Netherlands, where I could truly live the car-free, bike- and transitbased lifestyle that I’m trying to build here. Or maybe the more urbanist parts of Canada could do in a pinch.
Katharine Biele
I guess I’d go back to Taiwan —to a small village away from everything.
Wes Long
My inclination has usually been to places like Ireland or Canada, whose green environments and friendly people have long appealed to me. Lately, however, I find myself increasingly drawn to Sydney, Australia, thanks to a special someone in my life.
Paula Saltas Crete, Greece. Best food, friendly people, best beaches.
PRIVATE EYE
BY JOHN SALTAS
Fixing A Hole
Ilearned how to drive a car in Bingham Canyon, Utah. Bingham Canyon was the largest and longest canyon in the Oquirrh Mountains and was, at one time, home to more than 10,000 residents, who primarily earned their daily bread by working in the ever-expanding open pit copper mine.
Mining operations long ago buried and/or dug away the city of Bingham (and all subsidiary towns like Copperfield, Highland Boy, Galena, Yampa, Frogtown, Carr Fork, Dinkeyville and all the rest). The mine ate the entire canyon, leaving but a remnant piece of it at the very bottom, the area that once housed my family in Lead Mine, plus the town of Copperton, which looks nearly the same as when I was young—minus the grade school, high school, butcher, grocery store, barber, gas stations and confectionary. The three churches remain, however.
While Copperton was spared (Lead Mine was merely demolished, not buried), the rest of the Oquirrh Mountains were a bit less fortunate, with ugly brown waste dumps from the mine stretching for miles and miles along the eastern face of those once green mountains, rich with gullies, gulches and ravines. Basically, the Rio Tinto mining company owns the Oquirrh Mountains, from Magna on the north to Butterfield Canyon on the south, and has spared no extra change turning that land into an ecological and environmental disaster.
By now, you may be fairly wondering what all this has to do with me learning how to drive. One, I seldom resist the chance to pay homage to the wonderful town I grew
up in, lest it be forgotten one day. And two, it’s now reported that Sean Hannity and Donald Trump, in a show of unity for their poorly dressed, but very wealthy buddy, Elon Musk, are both purchasing Tesla automobiles. It’s the least they could do for their fellow Americans who have been laid off by the thousands.
Never mind the stock market taking a major, pre-recession tumble. We’ve entered a tariff trade war against the two best neighbors any country ever had. Our European allies are figuring it out that Donald Trump is neither friend nor ally. And the rising cost of consumer goods is hitting the very 75-or-so million Americans who took the bait and voted for a man who has literally nothing in common with them—not even the Bible.
If Trump and Hannity were going to spend six figures in a show of unity to someone, I’d kinda prefer that it had been to a soup kitchen or to a needy family, not to a ketamine-amped billionaire who is not only tanking three companies at once (Tesla, Starlink and X) but also aiding and abetting (up to his eyeballs) in the gutting of the very core of what used to be the haughty claim of the Republican party—American Exceptionalism. But in this bizarro world, nothing cements the Trump base more effectively than does a good slap in the face.
I’ll hold the wheel—you do the math. Divide the $300 million that Elon gave to the Trump campaign and divide it by the price of a Tesla. It’s the smallest of fractions. But what is better for our gullible neighbors than the sight of two creepy fawners driving around in shiny new Teslas?
A Tesla wouldn’t be of much use up in Bingham Canyon—not even the abominable Cybertruck. Bingham Canyon trucks were Fords or Chevys, with gun racks and an open bed—better for hauling deer off the hills during poaching season. The Tesla is a city-boy truck.
So, as I hold the wheel, I imagine Trump and Hannity trying to navigate Bingham’s single, narrow road. Can they make the blind bends below Heaston Heights? Climb
the hills of Highland Boy? Can they dodge the power poles that sometimes were laid right into the street itself? Could they parallel park in front of the Princess Theatre?
Have you ever seen either of those guys behind the wheel of anything? I learned to drive on a city street that one could easily spit across (and pee across too, according to canyon folklore). I parked in driveways that doubled as the testing centers for the parking brake, eked along ledges where a miscalculation would send you tumbling into the depths, and bounced upon rutted dirt roads that led everywhere and nowhere. We also had lots of snow.
Our mountain road was maintained as good as could be expected. The county trucks would lay salt and plow in the winters. With but one road, it had to be opened all the time—and everyone made sure that was the case. No one asked permission to make their roadway better or safer. They just did it.
Compare that to how the Utah State Legislature has passed a bill (SB195) that rescinds Salt Lake City’s control over its own streets. Want a speed bump to slow down the Avenues banker-elite, Republican NIMBYs? Want a painted crossing where a bush-league Tesla driver would be alerted that kids might be present—even in the HarvardYale area? Call UDOT.
That’s stupid. You see a hole, you fix it. There’s no real good reason for such a disruption of public safety except what is always par for the course in state politics: Republican legislators always mandate punishments on Utah’s capital city, which they consider to be puke incarnate.
The House and Senate bill sponsors are Republicans Wayne Harper of Taylorsville and Kay Christofferson of Lehi. Ever driven in either of those two traffic hellholes? If ever a case were made to use the cliché, “Physician heal thyself,” this is the time.
Mayor Mendenhall, next time SLC needs a facial, call Frankenstein. CW
Send comments to john@cityweekly.net.
HITS & MISSES
BY KATHARINE BIELE | @kathybiele BY BRYAN YOUNG
MISS: Fade to Black
There are lessons to be learned from the Utah Legislature. One is to be careful what you ask for—or what you are given. This is the story of Utah’s black license plate. When it was introduced, the idea was to give the proceeds to the Historical Society. The state has more than 20 custom vehicle plates that contribute to “special groups.” A few years ago, when the “Life Elevated Arches” plate was most popular, contributions came to $2.6 million. Enter the black license plate. South Jordan Republican Sen. Lincoln Fillmore claims he was the first to run it in 2018 because it looked “really cool.” Sen. Dan McCay even said he was probably elected because of the plate. Then, in 2023, lawmakers decided they like history, so why not give money to the Historical Society. To call the plate popular would be an understatement. “They’re not entitled to this money,” Fillmore says now that the windfall is apparent. So this year, $3.5 million from the plate’s contributions will be sent to the General Fund. Since black is such a popular color, we suggest trying out an all-black state seal. Black is the new gold—or vice versa.
HIT: Book ‘Em
In the xenophobic world we now occupy, it’s not surprising that the Legislature wants immigrants deported immediately—especially if they’ve been jailed for just about anything. Without getting into the murky details, Utah law now makes some misdemeanors felonies, and HB226 instructs law enforcement to help deport immigrants leaving jail. That means students, refugees and those on work visas, for instance, and without due process. “This bill does not impact illegal immigrants in any way, shape, or form,” said West Valley Sen. Daniel Thatcher. “It does 100% target those who are here legally. … This might be the worst bill I’ve seen.” Shortly after the bill passed 218, Thatcher quit the Republican Party, saying they do not listen to their constituents. He did listen and look what it got him—a spine and a conscience.
MISS: Budget Shuffle
You’ve got to love how our very welleducated lawmakers go about cutting funds to higher education. Never mind that many of them are high-paid lawyers and some at the top never even went to college—they are the ones who decide who gets to learn what.
“HB265,” writes The Salt Lake Tribune, “provides for how schools can get their share of the money back, only after showing that it will be reallocated for high-demand and high-wage majors as the state pushes for higher education to be more job-focused.” That’s $60 million the state has pulled from public colleges and universities, because maybe this is a way to get rid of those troublesome diversity programs and navel-gazing liberal arts. Stunningly, the former president of Weber State University, Ogden Republican Sen.
sors.
Excess Disorder
I’ll be honest, after the criminal activity perpetrated during his first term, I felt confident that a second Donald Trump presidency was an impossibility. How hopeful and naive I was. Now that we’re deep into the second “first hundred days,” Trump has taken a torch to normality.
It’s all angering. But the parts affecting my family most acutely are his bigoted executive orders—specifically the ones targeting trans kids. What little kid, already carrying an emotional burden, wants to wake up and find out the president of the United States has specifically demonized them and opened them up to more harassment?
According to recent Presidential decree, my 9-year-old is no longer allowed to play sports with his peers, because 4th-grade baseball and soccer teams are so competitive and trans athletes are really tipping the scales. (Frankly, I think all the sports at that age should just be co-ed, but that’s a different debate.)
Now my kid is afraid to go to the bathroom at school. He doesn’t want to be further bullied or get his teachers into trouble. Thanks to Trump, teachers and administrators who have been nothing but helpful and supportive are now at risk of prosecution for respecting my kid’s pronouns and name.
The school district let me fill out paperwork to honor my kid’s identity, but the state refuses to recognize it. He keeps bailing on state testing because they deadname him on exams. Teachers are at risk of criminal records for helping kids to feel more comfortable.
My son struggled at school, socially and academically, until he decided to start 3rd grade as a new kid and gender. He was going to be a boy with a new name. Between that and medication for his other mental health issues, his social transition turned him around from a behavioral nightmare into an incredible, well-adjusted student.
Trump wants to undo all of that progress. Why? Bigotry and a fake culture war. That’s about it. There’s no other legitimate reason.
Tucked away in his anti-trans nonsense, where he pulls Orwellian tricks to redefine gender and sex—against science and common sense, like characterizing puberty blockers as chemical mutilation—and makes medical decisions for families by inserting government between doctors and patients, Trump also insists that curriculum in schools be “America First.”
That means they don’t want kids learning about the Trail of Tears, or our history of slavery, or the Tulsa Massacre, or the Stonewall riots, or the McCarthy Era. These same folks will sneer at China as being oppressive and evil for not teaching their people about the Tiananmen Square massacre, but then mandate we do the exact same thing here. They’re turning our schools into a battleground where they shouldn’t be. And they’re hurting our kids.
My kid specifically. And it’s not okay. In the words of Howard Beale in Sidney Lumet’s 1976 masterpiece Network : “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!” CW
A&E ENTERTAINMENT
Green Spaces
Where to get your Irish on for 2025 St. Patrick’s Day events
BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw
St. “Practice” Day @ Piper Down: If you want to start your celebrations as early as possible, enjoy an evening at Irish pub Piper Down featuring live music by Celtic punk favorites Murphy and the Giant, plus traditional bagpipe and drum tunes from the Heathen Highlanders. Additional holiday-appropriate events take place at Piper Down throughout the weekend and into St. Patrick’s Day itself. Music on Friday, March 14 begins at 8:30 p.m., $5 cover charge; check the calendar for additional information. 1492 S. State, piperdownpub.com
St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Siamsa @ The Gateway: Salt Lake City’s biggest celebratory gathering of the green takes place at The Gateway mall, sponsored by the Hibernian Society of Utah. The fun kicks off at 11 a.m. with the annual parade, with the
route beginning at 200 South & 600 West, and traveling east to Rio Grande, from there to the north end of the Gateway. There, the Siamsa party takes place on the Olympic Plaza, as well as indoor spaces behind the stage. Irish fare will be served on site prepared by The Store, as well as at participating Gateway merchants, including Flanker Kitchen’s innovative takes on Irish classics like corned-beef tacos and Guinness-battered pretzels. Craft vendors will be offering traditional items, and two stages of live entertainment celebrates Irish dancing and music, including Pladdohg, Murphy and the Giant, Shanahy, An Rogaire Dubh, The Young Publiners, Scariff, Legacy, ADC and Rinceoiri Don Spraoi. Events close at 5 p.m., followed by official after-party at Flanker. Events are free, open to the public and family-friendly. 400 W. 200 South, irishinutah.org
Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl:
On Saturday, March 15, join other revelers in several hours of celebration at multiple locations for the city’s official “Crawl With Us” event. The festivities begin at Twist Bar (32 Exchange Place) with registration 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., and continues through 10 p.m., with an afterparty 10 p.m. – midnight. Participants get no cover at all locations, mid-party and after-party; official party cup and bottle-opener lanyard; green & gold beads; exclusive drink specials; food specials at select venues; professional photography; and custom badge with vouchers. Tickets
are $20 - $25; register at eventbrite.com
4th West Fest: Mountain West Cider, Red Rock Brewing and Tullamore Dew team up for a St. Patrick’s Day “afterparty” for the events at The Gateway. Enjoy cider, beer & whiskey from the participating sponsors, as well as food trucks, games and live entertainment including Dunmore Lasses and John Flanders Trio. Plenty of vendors will also be on site (including City Weekly). Admission is free, open to all-ages and dog-friendly. Dress for the weather. 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday, March 15. 425 N. 400 West, mountainwestcider.com
Leprechaun Lore Haunted House @ Asylum 49: The Tooele-based haunted house offers a chance to celebrate the scarier side of St. Paddy’s day with a weekend event. The “haunted hospital” focuses on leprechauns using their dark magic to conjure illusions and manipulate objects. The experience offers multiple “contact levels” depending on the guest’s degree of comfort, and reservations are required. Operating hours are 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15; general admission tickets are $20. 140 E. 200 South, Tooele, asylum49.com
Celtic Celebration @ Peery’s Egyptian Theater: If you haven’t already exhausted yourself over the weekend, there’s still celebrating to be done on the actual St. Patrick’s Day. Ogden’s legendary Peery’s Egyp-
tian Theater hosts an evening of music and dance featuring Callanish, Celtic Beat Dancers and the Wasatch and District Pipe Band. Adult beverages will be available on-site. Tickets are $10 - $15; showtime is Monday, March 17 at 7 p.m., doors at 6:30 p.m. 2415 Washington Blvd., Ogden, ogdenpet.com
Glass Etching @ Local Artisan Collective: You don’t just have to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by drinking; you can prepare the vessel for the next time you plan to drink. Local Artisan Collective offers a class with instructor Stephanie Howerton to learn glass etching techniques that will include participants decorating one mug, cup or shot glass of their choosing by the end. All supplies will be provided by the instructors. The event takes place on Monday, March 17, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.; registration is $20 per person, online at the website. 2371 Kiesel Ave., Ogden, localartisancollective.com
American Fork Symphony: Echoes of Ireland: A St. Patrick’s Day celebration rich with the music of the Emerald Isle comes to Utah County, headlined by the American Fork Symphony conducted by Dr. David Fullmer, and featuring dancing by Rinceoiri Don Spraoi. The program is scheduled to include “Molly On the Shore,” “Irish Tune from County Derry,” a suite from John Williams’ original score for Far and Away and music from Lord of the Dance Tickets are $5 - $8; performance is Monday, March 17 at 7 p.m. 1120 N. 20 West, American Fork, TAFtix.com CW
CAPTION
theESSENTIALS ENTERTAINMENT PICKS, MARCH 13-19,
Complete listings online at
Sheng Wang
Sheng Wang was born in Taipei, but grew up in Houston and now lives in Los Angeles. He’s a multi-cultural kind of guy, but also decidedly modest, and generally takes a self-effacing, observational approach as far as his comedy routines are concerned. After starting his stand-up career in New York and San Francisco, he became a featured performer at the Montreal Comedy Festival in 2007. In January 2011, he starred in his first stand-up special for Comedy Central Presents. Later that year, he won top honors at NBC’s Seventh Annual Stand Up for Diversity comedy search, and year after that, he appeared on Comedy Central’s John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show
His success streak continued when he earned the top spot on Last Comic Standing in 2015, and released his album Cornucopias Are Actually Horrible Containers that same year. He then went on to work behind the scenes for the ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat and appeared as a character named Hank in two episodes. In 2019, he appeared on the HBO Special 2 Dope Queens, and eventually secured his own Netflix special, Sweet & Juicy. Of course, with a title like that one, what ’s not to like? It’s hardly surprisingly then that the critics took note, leading The New York Times to declare that Wang “has a droll and relaxed delivery, which makes the focus and inventiveness of his material land even better.” We have to agree.
Sheng Wang performs at Kingsbury Hall (1395 E. Presidents Circle) on Friday, March 14 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $59 - $132 at vividseats.com. (Lee Zimmerman)
RDT: Regalia
If the wave of star-finding competition shows on network TV since the early 2000s has taught us anything, it’s that people love the idea of finding a diamond in the rough. Making it as an artist is difficult, and there’s nothing quite like seeing someone make the most of their opportunity to shine. That’s why Repertory Dance Theatre’s annual Regalia fund-raiser has found such a successful premise in asking the question, “So You Think You Can Choreograph?”
Answering “yes” to that question are four individuals making their first-ever effort at choreographing with the dancers of a professional company. Jan Cendese, Melissa Faber, Georgia Reuling and Christine Holding were each required to raise $2,000 in individual donations to get their shot at the stage, subsequently working with choreographic mentors and RDT dancers to create an evening of performance that is also a competition. Attendees are encouraged to wear their finest sparkly attire and kick off the evening with a cocktail hour, followed by the one-night-only performance—hosted by actors Gabrielle Miller and Alexander Cendese—in which those in the audience will have an opportunity to vote on which of the amateurchoreographed works was most successful. And afterwards, you can mix and mingle with the artists for dessert and dancing.
RDT’s Regalia takes place at the Rose Wagner Center’s Jeanne Wagner Theatre (138 W. 300 South) on Saturday, March 15, 7 p.m. cocktails, 8 p.m. performance. Tickets are $75; visit rdtutah.org or saltlakecountyarts.org to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)
Ben and Gabrielle Blair
Let’s face it: Whether we were raised in the faith or not, we all have an image in our heads when we think about “LDS parents.” And probably even more so when you add the designation of “mommy blogger.” But you need to shift those preconceptions radically when it comes to writer/ educators Ben and Gabrielle Blair. After all, those notions probably don’t connect with the idea of a Mormon mom and dad who tell you not to believe you can arrange a perfect childhood for your kids, or someone who writes a book called Ejaculate Responsibly.
That’s the unique worldview the Blairs bring to talking about issues that are often complicated and bordering-on-taboo within conservative religious circles. In her New York Times bestseller Ejaculate Responsibly, Gabrielle Blair shifts the responsibility and stigma involved in the abortion and unplanned-parenthood conversation to men, focusing on the idea of which partner is always fertile, and how to ditch the stereotypes surrounding male contraception and fertility surgery. Meanwhile, Ben and Gabrielle’s 2024 book The Kids Are Alright: Parenting With Confidence in an Uncertain World addresses the pressures to be a “perfect parent” known all-too-well in this state, attempting to mitigate the freak-outs over things like screen time, whatever moral panic has seized the news cycle, or whether your child can get into the ideal university.
Ben and Gabrielle Blair visit First Baptist Church (777 S. 1300 East) to discuss their books on Wednesday, March 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10, with all proceeds going to the non-profit Brain Food Books; visit kingsenglish.com for Eventbrite reservation link. (SR)
City Weekly’s Best Of Utah Top 10!
BEST LOCAL WHISKEY
Ah, whiskey. The water of life drawn from the aged mash of pleasure. Whether your tastes run to barley, rye, corn or wheat for your grain of choice, there’s no mistaking the classic gold-to-amber color of a whiskey. However similar they may appear, though, in the hands of these local distilleries, you’re in for a varied taste experience.
City Weekly’s Best Of Utah Top 10!
Once upon a time, the term “dive bar” had negative connotations, a remark upon an establishment’s dim atmosphere, dated decor or unglamorous clientele. As time has gone on, however, dives have come into their own as a place to seek out and experience. Their unpretentious style, historical character and/ or diverse happenings are instead assets rather than liabilities, and thank goodness for the Salt Lake area that we have so many to enjoy!
CINEMA
March Scares
Hostage scenarios, parasitic ghosts and the literal end of the world in three new releases.
BY SCOTT RENSHAW scottr@cityweekly.net @scottrenshaw
Novocaine BBB
It’s not entirely necessary to add a germ of effective subtext to a story that works largely as a hyper-violent action-comedy, but I have to admit that I kind of appreciate the effort. It’s the tale of Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid), assistant manager at a San Diego bank and a man with a rare genetic condition that makes him unable to feel pain. It’s a trait that makes his life dangerous, but comes in handy when a robbery at his bank ends with the co-worker he adores (Amber Midthunder) being taken hostage, and Nathan sets out to rescue her. The direction by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen leans into all the punishment Nathan’s body is able to endure—warning to the squeamish—while Quaid’s performance does a terrific job of matching an inherent timidity to Nathan’s increasingly heroic actions. But Lars Jacobson’s script also provides great details setting up Nathan’s life of protecting himself from the kind of harm for which pain is a warning, while simultaneously remaining too isolated to develop connections. It’s definitely a satisfying ride, albeit one where the central heist plan makes almost no sense if you think about it for even a minute after the movie ends. And it’s also a fine reminder that living a life that risks pain is part of what makes us human. Available March 14 in theaters. (R)
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes
Movie BB½
Warner Bros. has already infamously shelved the Coyote vs. Acme feature, and now has passed off this Daffy Duck/Porky Pig vehicle to a secondary distributor, which kind of indicates how invested the studio is in keeping the Looney Tunes legacy alive. Yet there are still at least some charms in this apocalyptic comedy, with adopted brothers/BFFs Daffy and Porky (both
voiced by Eric Bauza) discovering a plot by an alien (Peter MacNicol) to enslave Earth through tainted bubble gum. Director Peter Browngardt and the writing team go kinda retro in their characterization of Daffy in “Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo!” mode, which helps contribute to an animation approach filled with stretched faces and exaggerated bodies in motion (and is a nice counterpart to the farmer character who often moves like clip-art). As satisfying as it is, though, to see the result of actual hand-drawn animation—and respectful nods to Looney Tunes history, including naming the local diner after the legendary Bob Clampett—the story simply isn’t very funny often enough, too concerned with developing character arcs like Porky’s crush on Petunia (Candi Milo) at the expense of good old-fashioned jokes, and not the kind that feel the need to include farts and butt cracks. I suppose it’s encouraging that they still want to make movies with Looney Tunes characters, but it would help if they felt more like Looney Tunes movies. Available March 14 in theaters. (PG)
Control Freak BB½
The jokey cliché about contemporary horror movies is that all of them are Actually About Trauma, but it would have been a lot simpler if this one had just stayed in that lane rather than allowing its central metaphor to wander all over the place. Kelly Marie Tran stars as Valerie Nguyen, a self-help guru about to elevate to the next level of success—at the same time that she finds herself scratching compulsively at the back of her head, seeing visions of ants everywhere and possibly discovering that she’s possessed by a demon. What follows should definitely be trigger-warning fodder for anyone timid about body horror and/or creepy-crawly things, as writer/director Shal Ngo provides an unsettling foundation for Tran’s increasingly unhinged performance in a narrative with a tone built much more on unsettling atmosphere than jump-scares. The problem is that Ngo introduces way too many threads as possible sources for the entity plaguing her. Is this about confronting suicidal ideation? Yep. Dealing with the legacy of familial mental illness and substance abuse. Uh-huh. Criticizing simplistic self-help language? Why not? Generational trauma from those who’ve experienced war? Sure, throw some of that in there, too. Scary cinema can do great things with making literal monsters out of the voices in our heads, but it’s going to be frustrating if too many different monsters keep talking over one another. Available March 13 via Hulu. (R) CW
Utah’s annual 45-day legislative session ended on March 7.
DOG EAT DOG
WITH NO MONEY TO SPEND AND NO ELECTIONS TO WIN, UTAH LAWMAKERS WENT TO WORK TIGHTENING THEIR LEASH ON THE STATE.
BY BENJAMIN WOOD BWOOD@CITYWEEKLY
CAPITOL HILL—Some years, the Utah Legislature is flush with cash, generously dispersing spoonfuls of sugar to help the medicine go down their constituents’ throats.
And some years, the gravitational pull of a marquee election jolts the proceedings with media-luring bravado, distracting the showhorses while the workhorses keep their heads down and bring the cargo home.
But 2025 was neither of those years. Between January and March, a cashpoor and insufficiently stimulated Republican supermajority rolled up its sleeves and got into the weeds, tinkering with the machinery of government and irritating—seemingly— everyone in the process.
“I think the session was on track to be a lot worse for us than it ended up being,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said. “Our team did an
extraordinary job standing up for the city and trying to negotiate in good faith for our priorities.”
Lawmakers banned unions from schools, fire departments and libraries. They banned transgender students from college dorms and banned Pride flags from City Hall. They banned bike lanes in Salt Lake—figuratively, for the most part, but also quite literally.
They attacked the judiciary, rousing the legal community and provoking a seemingly unprecedented display of abject disapproval from Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Durrant.
They irritated The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, testing new road fees that would staunch the budgetary bleeding from runaway maintenance costs, but which would—unlike property taxes—apply to church-owned real estate.
And they irritated each other, birthing a one-man Utah Forward Party caucus after West Valley’s Dan
Thatcher broke up with his (formerly) fellow Senate Republicans. And they launched an armada of conference committees in the session’s final days, ad hoc panels of representatives and senators formed when the two chambers deadlocked on preferred alterations to a bill.
“It’s a new House, it’s a new senate—lots of energy all the way around on both sides,” said House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper. “Conflict— that’s the way the legislative branch is set up.”
Dorms and Norms
The early days of the 2025 session were dominated by two bans: one prohibiting the housing of transgender college students in single-gender dormitories that correspond with their gender identities; and another prohibiting public entities from formally engaging in collective bargaining.
Both passed and were signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox prior to the end of session, though a coalition of labor unions announced the launch of a referendum campaign to overturn the collective bargaining ban, HB267.
“I think that referendum can happen,” said House Minority Leader Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City. “It will be really interesting to see what happens in 2026 when we have an election, because I’m hoping people are going to say ‘enough is enough’.”
Hanging over the entire session was a threat to end mail-in voting. Lawmakers insist that Utah’s elections need to be more secure, despite no election result having ever been legitimately questioned and the pesky, nagging detail that mail-in voting is extremely popular.
“There are some people, who know better, who have completely lied about our election system for their own gain,” Cox said. “I do not condone that
Continued from page 16
“We have to be clear-eyed about the fact that funding at the federal level right now is uncertain.”
—Rep. Jen DaileyProvost, D-SLC
and yet, it has happened. Lots of people wrongly believe that we have mass fraud in our elections and it’s just not true. But we need to restore trust to them as well.”
House and Senate Democrats were opposed to all iterations of the mail-in voting bill, HB300, with Romero tying it to the goals of Project 2025, a blueprint by top officials in the Trump administration to restrict and dismantle democratic institutions.
“That’s voter suppression to us,” Romero said. “It’s like Utah is the testing ground for all these horrible pieces of legislation.”
By the end of session, the ban on transgender student housing was joined by a ban on the display of Pride flags and other pro-LGBTQ banners in and on government-owned buildings. While the obvious target was school classrooms, the bill also took aim at cities that might care to raise a Pride flag at their government headquarters, as Salt Lake City does each year on Washington Square, where the Utah Pride Festival is traditionally held.
“That was so clearly targeted at Salt Lake City, as were a great many of those bills,” Mendenhall said. “This will not impact the Pride Festival or any other festival that gets permitted allowance to use our public spaces. Private flag poles can hang the flag.”
Salt Lake City Democratic Rep. Sahara Hayes, the only openly-LGBTQ member of the Legislature, said
“There is demand for housing at the first rung of the economic ladder and the government is constraining supply there.”
—Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-SoJo
the flag ban “sucks”—she also “booed” when asked about it—and that, despite the majority’s talk of promoting neutrality and fairness, it will harm people who have been on the receiving end of years of attacks from lawmakers.
“It’s still going to leave its mark on people who feel like they’re not safe to be seen,” Hayes said. “And that’s not negligible. That’s going to impact a lot of people in this state and we’ve got to live with that.”
But Cox defended the bill, saying the same people who oppose it would likely disapprove of a teacher hanging a “Make America Great Again” flag in school.
“This is the issue,” Cox said. “Why are we having these battles in the classroom?”
SNAP, Crackle and Pop
South Jordan Republican Sen. Lincoln Fillmore took issue with the idea that lawmakers are control freaks, countering that when the state overrides a county or city, they are restoring power back to individual constituents and consumers. Along those lines, he was one of several lawmakers who sponsored legislation aimed at loosening the zoning restrictions that cities place on housing.
While most of those bills failed, one of Fillmore’s, SB181, passed the Legislature and prohibits cities from requiring that designated affordable housing include a
Utah lawmakers voted to ban public sector unions, Pride flags and bike lanes, while making it harder to cast a mail-in ballot.
garage. In many municipalities—West Valley, for example—new homes are required to have a 2- or even 3-car garage, arbitrarily inflating the baseline cost to build, rent and purchase housing units.
“There is demand for housing at the first rung of the economic ladder and the government is constraining supply there,” Fillmore said. “I think we need to keep moving forward the idea that we ought to lessen government interference in that market, so that demand can reach supply.”
Lawmakers came close to easing the proximity restrictions that prevent the sale of alcohol near parks and other community destinations. But that provision was stripped from a larger package of tweaks to alcohol-related code, with the final bill allowing only the planned redevelopment at the state prison site to have the privilege of convenient adult beverage sales.
And participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program, commonly known as “food stamps” may not be able to purchase so-called junk food in the future under HB403, which directs the Department of Workforce Services to pursue a waiver from federal SNAP guidelines. While the Senate was narrowly divided in a 15-13 vote on the bill, it comfortably passed the House 54-14 along party lines.
“I was once on food stamps. I’m a product of the system,” Romero said. “To tell a family that you can’t buy a piece of candy or you can’t have a soda is ludicrous.”
The Utah Senate birthed a one-man Utah Forward Party caucus, after West Valley Sen. Dan Thatcher left the GOP. Republcians
Jen Dailey-Provost
Lincoln Fillmore Rep. Sahara Hayes, D-Salt Lake City
Continued on page 21
“I was once on food stamps. I’m a product of the system. To tell a family that you can’t buy a piece of candy or you can’t have a soda is ludicrous.”
—Rep. Angela Romero, D-SLC
Lawmakers took a particular turn on the issue of transportation, subjecting Salt Lake City to new levels of scrutiny and oversight by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and blurring what were once clear lines between state-owned roads like State Street/Highway 89 and city-owned streets like Main Street or 600 East.
Under SB195, Salt Lake City is temporarily blocked from initiating any street improvement projects on collector and arterial roads until preparing a new citywide “mobility plan” and receiving approval from UDOT.
But after pushback from residents and closeddoor negotiations with city representatives—plus a few deceptive twists and turns by the House and Senate floor sponsors—the bill was amended to allow “expedited review” of projects scheduled for this year, like plans to add protected cycling facilities to 300 West and 400 South.
Institutional stakeholders like the Utah Transit Authority and Wasatch Front Regional Council largely stayed out of the fight on SB195, at least publicly. UTA spokesman Gavin Gustafson said the transit agency is prepared to work with the city and state to prepare transportation plans that serve all roadway users.
“UTA will continue to support and work closely with our partners at SLC, SL County, UDOT and
the state to advance our collective efforts to improve public transit and mobility within our service area,” Gustafson said.
Dollars and Sense
By midway through the legislative session, lawmakers had largely appropriated all of the year’s available budget surplus.
A 4% boost to per-student funding in public education and cost of living adjustments for state employees were built into base budgets, leaving the equivalent of loose change for the prioritization of other requests as the session drew to a close.
But legislative leaders made a point to tuck a little money aside for tax cuts, trimming the income tax rate to 4.5%, expanding the child tax credit and eliminating the tax on social security for individuals earning less than $90,000 per year.
“In a tight budget year, we were able to come together, still do tax cuts and tax relief for the citizens of the state,” Schultz said.
The Legislature also returned a small amount of excess funding to its rainy day accounts, bolstering reserves that, in the eyes of some critics, are bursting at the seams. Salt Lake City Democratic Rep. Jennifer Dailey-Provost questioned the wisdom of stockpiling cash when so many substantive requests for funding—
and particularly in the health care and social services arena—were turned away. But she also noted that the state could soon find itself needing to dip into those reserves to cover shortfalls stemming from the Trump administration’s budget moves in D.C.
“We have to be clear-eyed about the fact that funding at the federal level right now is uncertain,” DailyProvost said. “Our state is going to have to pick up the slack when some of that harm comes down the pike.”
While House Democrats were critical of some of the trends they see in the majority’s priorities, they were also complimentary toward the respect and deference afforded them by House leadership.
Romero said that, unlike past years, Democraticsponsored legislation is being allowed out of the rules committee—a procedural body that can function like a lockbox or a switchboard, depending on the chairperson—and given the chance of a fair hearing.
“The speaker made a commitment to us and he’s kept that commitment with the majority of our bills,” Romero said.
She said the Democratic caucus is a symbol that the state is not monolithic. And while Romero and her fellow Democrats may be in the minority today, “one day soon” they will be in the majority.
“People need to pay attention to what’s going on up here,” Romero said. “And if they don’t like what’s happening, they need to execute their right to vote.” CW
“It’s a new House, it’s a new Senate—lots of energy all the way around on both sides. ... Conflict—that’s the way the legislative branch is set up.”
—House
Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper
Angela Romero
Mike Schultz
Union leaders took questions after the launch of a referendum campaign.
Demonstrators gather in the Capitol Rotunda.
Parting Shots
In its final days, the Utah Legislature created new rules for higher education funding and mail-in voting while opening the door to nuclear power.
BY JOSI HINDS comments@cityweekly.net
Utah’s 2025 legislative session, which came to a close on March 7, was full of the usual debate and controversy. Over the course of seven weeks, constituents saw a flurry of new regulations and prohibitions, like the end of collective bargaining in the public sector— pending the outcome of a union-led referendum campaign—the start of state oversight on Salt Lake Cityowned streets and new restrictions on the on-campus housing options for transgender students.
And in their final days on Capitol Hill, lawmakers pushed through bills altering higher education funding and mail-in voting, and taking the first steps toward an expansion of nuclear power in the state.
Higher Education
Lawmakers voted largely along party lines for HB265, which tasks Utah universities with reallocating 10% of their instructional budgets. In other words, administrators must identify specific programs, classes and faculty positions to cut and free up fund-
ing that can be reallocated based on six considerations: enrollment data; completion rates; professional outcomes; workforce demands; program cost; and the university’s role in Utah.
The bill is intended to ensure that Utah is “using our funds to the highest and best use,” Ogden Republican Sen. Ann Millner, the bill’s Senate sponsor, told her chamber colleagues on Feb. 26.
“[Funds] will not be cut from the institution if they have thoughtful plans for reinvestment of those funds,” she said.
The bill formally passed the Legislature on March 6 and is now on its way to Gov. Spencer Cox for his signature or veto. But the bill has been met with some skepticism from education stakeholders. Some worry that HB265 would unfairly target arts and humanities programs, though sponsors of the bill have emphasized that is not the bill’s intent.
D iscussions in the Senate also touched on broader concerns over how funding decisions will be made. During a hearing of the Senate Education Committee, Sen. Kathleen Riebe, DCottonwood Heights, asked whether the bill ensures due process for personnel who might face layoffs in the reallocation process.
“Every institution’s policies are going to look a little different on due process, but [also] very similar because of the rights of employees,” said Rep. Karen Peterson, R-Clinton, HB265’s sponsor.
But Riebe pushed back against Peterson’s response, noting how the bill on higher education reallocation coincided with the passage of another bill, HB267, that prohibits collective bargaining in the public sector. She suggested adding specific guidelines
for personnel decisions into HB265.
“With the current climate,” Riebe said, “the personnel decision isn’t really sacred anymore.”
Some public commenters also emphasized the need to include more voices in the conversations around how funding will be reallocated.
“One of the things that we would really like to see is the opportunity in writing for faculty and staff and students to be involved in the decision-making processes,” said Sean Crossland for the Utah College Council, an American Federation of Teachers union branch.
R iebe introduced an amendment to the bill on the Senate floor that would have required the Utah Board of Higher Education to consult with “some of the experts who are in the field, like the presidents of each institution and faculty, staff and students,” though the amendment ultimately failed.
In addition to establishing this reinvestment plan, HB265 bill also stipulates that bachelor degree programs take no longer than 120 credit hours, unless a program requires additional accreditation. Millner said they’ve asked the Utah Board of Higher Education to look into establishing threeyear degree programs at universities.
Election Law
The second half of the legislative session saw lawmakers working through multiple iterations of HB300, debating big changes to a bill that initially sought to all but end Utah’s use of mail-in balloting.
In its early drafts, the bill required all ballots be dropped off in person at polling stations—staffed by at least two people—alongside a valid form of identification.
But, after the bill received significant pushback, subsequent amendments reversed that requirement.
“Utahns, in large numbers, have let us know that they like to receive voting by mail, and so this substitute in this bill will preserve that requirement of vote-by-mail,” said Rep. Jefferson Burton, R-Salem, while introducing the substitute on the House floor on Feb. 25.
Now, voters will have to provide the last four digits of their driver’s license—or another form of valid ID— with their mail-in ballots. Physical IDs will have to be shown at in-person polling places, for voters to elect to cast their ballots there.
By keeping an ID requirement, Burton said the bill will “better enhance the security of our election process.” He repeatedly cited a 2024 Pew Research Center study, which found 81% of Americans favor requiring voters to show ID, to justify his legislation.
To help ensure access to voting, the substitute also added that free state ID cards will be issued to voters who don’t otherwise have a valid ID, like a driver’s license. Voters will also have to initially opt in to mail-in voting under HB300, but the bill allows for that requirement to be satisfied through an online process, or while registering to vote or renewing a driver’s license.
Despite those changes, the bill received mixed reviews from several county clerks during a Senate Labor and Business Committee meeting on Feb. 27. L annie Chapman, Salt Lake County clerk, said the bill still needs to be further developed.
“While many changes have been made, there are still substantial hurdles that this bill brings forward statewide,” she said, noting the ex-
Sen. Ann Millner, R-Ogden
Rep. Karen Peterson, R-Clinton
Rep. Jefferson Burton, R-Salem
Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork
tended amount of time it would take to administer elections while phasing in the law and the lack of funding provided for it.
Shelly Jackson, deputy director of elections in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, spoke in support of the bill. “There are a few concepts that we still need to brush up and sand off and things that didn’t get included in the new sub, but we have gotten to a place that makes this bill so much better for voters, and we are supportive of it,” she said.
While the majority of commenters spoke against the bill, pointing to worries about its feasibility and the potential disenfranchisement of voters, several supported the added security measures.
“Fraud disenfranchises my vote,” resident Caroline Phippen said.
The bill passed the Legislature on March 6, largely along party lines, but with some bipartisan crossover.
“I’m not going to say that every stakeholder got everything they wanted, and I think that’s the sign of a good bill,” said Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, the bill’s floor sponsor. “I think we have a really good bill. I think it’s a very appropriate bill. I think we tackle the security [while] at the same time preserving vote by mail.”
Nuclear Energy
After disagreements over whether the state “shall” or “may” negotiate with counties and municipalities where power projects are developed, HB249 passed through the Legislature on March 6.
It’s now waiting for Gov. Cox’s signature or veto.
HB249 outlines a path through
which nuclear energy production in Utah can be established. It does this by creating a new Nuclear Energy Consortium to guide nuclear development and the Utah Energy Council to facilitate the development of energy generation facilities.
In the last week of the legislative session, debate on the bill surrounded the power that local authorities would have in energy production projects. And after a third substitute to the bill was adopted on March 5, those concerns were heightened.
The third substitute made it an option for the Utah Energy Council to negotiate with local municipalities, not a requirement. It was rejected in the House that same day, and a conference committee was organized to work out the issue.
“Those of you who are getting your phones blown up by your county commissioners, your clerks—and I am too—just relax,” said Rep. Carl Albrecht, R-Richfield, on the House floor. “Take a pill. Cool your jets. We’re going to fix this in committee.”
The final bill, under a fourth substitute, now clarifies that the council “shall” negotiate with counties and municipalities. It also adds guidelines for the use of tax differentials— or the difference in tax revenue before and after a development project.
The bill also requires the Utah Energy Council to negotiate with municipalities over how this new revenue will be spent. At least 10% of the funds given to municipalities must be used for “impact mitigation and affordable housing,” the bill says.
“We made some changes that helped the counties, the cities and everybody went away with a smile on their face,” Albrecht said. CW
Sen. Kathleen Riebe, D-Cottonwood Heights
Rep. Carl Albrecht, R-Richfield
Choose the Ripe
Draper’s White Tomato blends casual vibes with fine dining service.
BY ALEX SPRINGER comments@cityweekly.net @captainspringer
The fast-casual boom of the early 2000s has made an indelible mark on restaurant architecture. It’s really the corral that does it—that half-wall that reaches to your mid-torso and funnels you to the register so you can make your order. Now that a lot of these fast-casual mega-franchises are closing down, smaller, locallyowned restaurants like White Tomato are moving in. So, what happens when an artisan pasta concept takes over a space that previously belonged to Smashburger?
The experiment in question was posed by Chef Roberto Calcagno, a native of Genoa, Italy. Calcagno came to Utah on the heels of running Mountainara Cucina Italiana in Colorado, so he knows a thing or two about adapting Italian concepts to Rocky Mountain sensibilities. White Tomato, which opened in January of this year, is an interesting blend of casual accessibility and fine dining experience.
White Tomato’s space has been completely retooled to capture the vibes of that nondescript-but-nice Italian restaurant you remember visiting with your parents. Black tablecloths, silverware wrapped in fabric napkins, wall art and more than a few plants are all in sync with the darkon-dark color scheme. Currently, White Tomato is open for lunch and dinner, and there are some decent options available no matter when you visit.
I appreciated White Tomato’s sandwich menu as a lunch option; the beauty of an Italian sandwich isn’t often represented
at our local pasta joints, which is really a shame. You’ve got hot panini sandwiches riffing on everything from eggplant parm ($12) to the meatball ($14), but I was a bit partial to the Italian hero ($12). The sandwiches are on good-sized panini that has been pressed to perfection—no burnt crusts here.
The Italian hero is layered with soppressata, andouille sausage and a generous slice of melty provolone. It’s served with soup or salad, and I got the portobello mushroom soup, which I really enjoyed—think cream of mushroom, with a bit more depth and richer texture. The sandwich is truly everything you want in an Italian-inspired panini. The sausage and soppressata are joined by plenty of marinara, so this guy eats like a meatball sandwich without the mess and a bit more of that dry, cured meat flavor.
On the pasta side of things, White Tomato does a good job of including some familiar favorites like classic alfredo ($16) and eggplant parmigiana ($17), while also sending a few curve balls. If you’re visiting White Tomato for something well within your comfort zone, then the lasagna ($19) is your best bet. It’s made with both a bolognese sauce and béchamel, which is honestly enough to make your favorite sneakers taste good. When applied to perfectly cooked and layered noodles, however, you’ve got something that speaks to the Italian food lover in all of us. The sage ravioli ($18) and Tuscan tortellini ($17) are also solid bets for those who, like me, can’t get enough of stuffed pasta. I think the ravioli edges out the tortellini just a bit, but they’re both solid options.
White Tomato is also the type of Italian spot where you absolutely should peruse the appetizer menu. I won’t judge you for getting fried ravioli ($9), because it’s delightful, but it’s the bruschetta ($7) that really steals the show on this side of the menu. These days, if you’re an Italian restaurant and you’re not making your
own focaccia, then what are you even doing with yourself? Luckily, White Tomato got the memo—and its focaccia is great. It’s even better when topped with a pesto & tomato confit, then hit with a little balsamic vinegar.
I think what makes the bruschetta the star of the appetizers is the fact that it provides you an excellent sneak peek of the rest of the menu. Appetizers should do this by default, but it’s amazing how often you get an appetizer menu that feels divorced from the main entrees. That pesto & tomato confit is absolutely dynamite, and it preps the palate with all those flavors of olive oil, basil and tomato. This is a true taste bud awakener, and I was quite impressed with how sophisticated this was.
I was also a fan of the meatballs parmigiana ($10), a good-sized portion of bite-sized, all-beef meatballs with marinara and shaved parmesan. They can be ordered solo, or with some fettuccine noodles for $8 extra if you’re looking for something closer to spaghetti & meatballs as an entree. Even without the pasta, these are well-prepped and texturally pleasing meatballs, but I honestly kind of prefer them with the noodles—as it turns out, I am a total sucker for meatballs, pasta and marinara.
The fact that White Tomato is making all of its pasta in-house definitely kicks the restaurant into a tier above fast-casual, and that’s a good thing. The service was also fast and attentive, so I think White Tomato has a lot going for it as one of Draper’s newest restaurants. If more places like this could start pushing overhyped fast-casual places out of the strip malls, I think we’d be better for it. CW
2 Row Brewing
73 West 7200 South, Midvale
2RowBrewing.com
On Tap: Piney Peaks “West Coast IPA”
Avenues Proper 376 8th Ave, SLC avenuesproper.com
On Tap: Steamy Wonder Rye Steam Ale
Bewilder Brewing
445 S. 400 West, SLC
BewilderBrewing.com
On Tap: Belgian Pale Ale, Cosmic Pop IPA, Lord of the Ryes Stout
Bohemian Brewery
94 E. Fort Union Blvd, Midvale BohemianBrewery.com
On Tap: ‘I.P.L.’ India Pale Lager, Munich ‘Dunkel’, Cali ‘Steam’ Lager, ‘BrewSki’ German Pils
Bonneville Brewery 1641 N. Main, Tooele BonnevilleBrewery.com
On Tap: Peaches and Cream
Chappell Brewing 2285 S Main Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 chappell.beer
On Tap: Playground #13 - Hazy Pale with Lemondrop and Sultana
Craft by Proper 1053 E. 2100 So., SLC properbrewingco.com
On Tap: Steamy Wonder Rye Steam Ale
Desert Edge Brewery
273 Trolley Square, SLC DesertEdgeBrewery.com
On Tap: High Pressure Haze, Hazy Pale Ale
Epic Brewing Co. 825 S. State, SLC EpicBrewing.com
On Tap: 2024 Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stouts
Etta Place Cidery
700 W Main St, Torrey www.ettaplacecider.com
On Tap: Wassail Cider,
A list of what local craft breweries and cider houses have on tap this week
Fisher Brewing Co.
320 W. 800 South, SLC FisherBeer.com
On Tap: A rotation of up to 17 Fresh Beers!
Grid City Beer Works
333 W. 2100 South, SLC GridCityBeerWorks.com
On Tap: Cask Nitro CO2
Helper Beer 159 N Main Street, Helper, UT helperbeer.com
Hopkins Brewing Co. 1048 E. 2100 South, SLC HopkinsBrewingCompany.com
On Tap: Belgian Pale Ale
Kiitos Brewing
608 W. 700 South, SLC KiitosBrewing.com
Now with a full bar license & draft beer cocktails!
On Tap: Fonio - 100% gluten free beer; Schwarzbier
Level Crossing Brewing Co. 2496 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake
LevelCrossingBrewing.com On Tap: Kolsch
Level Crossing Brewing Co.,
550 South 300 West, Suite
LevelCrossingBrewing.com
On Tap: Vienna Lager
Moab Brewing 686 S. Main, Moab TheMoabBrewery.com Arnie (Co-Lab with 2 Row brewing): cream ale base with Lychee black tea and fresh pasteurized lemon juice.
Mountain West Cider 425 N. 400 West, SLC MountainWestCider.com RasPerry Vanilla Hard Cider
Offset Bier Co
1755 Bonanza Dr Unit C, Park City offsetbier.com/
On Tap: DOPO IPA
Ogden Beer Company
358 Park Blvd, Ogden OgdenBeerCompany.com
On Tap: 11 rotating taps as well as high point cans and guest beers
Park City Brewing 1764 Uinta Way C1 ParkCityBrewing.com
On Tap: ALES for ALS - 5.0% hazy pale
Policy Kings Brewery 223 N. 100 West, Cedar City PolicyKingsBrewery.com
Prodigy Brewing 25 W Center St. Logan Prodigy-brewing.com
On Tap: 302 Czech Pilsner
Proper Brewing/Proper Burger 857 So. Main & 865 So. Main properbrewingco.com
On Tap: Steamy Wonder Rye Steam Ale
Proper Brewing Moab 1393 US-191, Moab properbrewingco.com
On Tap: Blizzard Wizard Hazy Pale Ale
Red Rock Brewing 254 So. 200 West RedRockBrewing.com
On Tap: Gypsy Scratch
Red Rock Fashion Place 6227 So. State Redrockbrewing.com
On Tap: Munich Dunkel
Red Rock Kimball Junction 1640 Redstone Center Redrockbrewing.com
On Tap: Bamberg Rauch Bier
RoHa Brewing Project 30 Kensington Ave, SLC RoHaBrewing.com On Tap: Pink Boots Dragonfruit IPA
Roosters Brewing Multiple Locations RoostersBrewingCo.com
On Tap: Cyclops Irish Stout
SaltFire Brewing 2199 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake SaltFireBrewing.com
On Tap: Charlotte Sometimes Blonde Ale
Salt Flats Brewing 2020 Industrial Circle, SLC SaltFlatsBeer.com
On Tap: Winter Amber with notes of Vanilla and Brown Sugar
Scion Cider Bar 916 Jefferson St W, SLC Scionciderbar.com
On Tap: Tin City - Fresh Quince of Bel Air 8.5% ABV
Second Summit Cider 4010 So. Main, Millcreek secondsummitcider.com On Tap: Imperial 8.2%
Shades Brewing 154 W. Utopia Ave, S. Salt Lake ShadesBrewing.beer On Tap: Fresh Hop IPA (with homegrown local hops)
Shades On State 366 S. State Street SLC Shadesonstate.com
On Tap: Six Wheat Under Hefeweizen; Black Cloud Lager
Silver Reef 4391 S. Enterprise Drive, St. George SGBev.com
Squatters Corner Pub –Valley Fair 3555 Constitution Blvd, West Valley City squatterscornerpub.com
On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. Hef Baum Hefeweizen
Squatters Pub Brewery / Salt Lake Brewing Co. 147 W. Broadway, SLC saltlakebrewingco.com/ squatters
On Tap: Salt Lake Brewing Co. O’Caden’s Irish Red Ale
Squatters and Wasatch Brewery 1763 So 300 West SLC UT 84115
Utahbeers.com
On Tap: 20 beers with 12 rotating small batch releases: Black Tea English Porter, Hazelnut Brown Ale, and more!
Small Batch Series Release: Back Abbey Double Belgian Ale
Strap Tank Brewery, Lehi 3661 Outlet Pkwy, Lehi, UT
StrapTankBrewery.com
On Tap: Redeemer Rauchbier, God of Thunder Roggenbier
Strap Tank Brewery, Springville
596 S 1750 W, Springville, UT StrapTankBrewery.com
On Tap: Candy Cap English Mild
TF Brewing
936
BEER NERD
Stout Alternatives
Try a different kind of dark beer this St. Patrick’s Day
BY MIKE RIEDEL comments@cityweekly.net @utahbeer
Grid City - Inner Darkness: This Czech lager is traditionally known as “Tmavé Lezak” or Pivo, which translates as “dark lager.” The style is similar to the more familiar German Schwarzbier that is also a dark lager. Tmavés are generally sweeter, with more chocolate characters than their German cousin.
It looks nice—a deep, dark brown color with ruby notes and good clarity. A creamy two-finger light brown head eventually dissipated to a thin layer. The first whiff yields a nice dark, roasty aroma, along with a bit of charcoal, along with notes of coffee and baker’s chocolate along with subtle hop presence on the finish. I also get a faint licorice note, nuttiness with dark walnuts and bit of creaminess on the nose also.
It’s very smooth and pleasant on the initial drink, showcasing lots of roasted malt, nutty notes and coffee with a subtle sweetness, with a mild to medium bitterness and overall dry finish. I think that the bitterness is achieved by a combination of roasted malts and hops. I like how there is a charcoal dryness on the finish that almost reminds me of a smoked porter (however, I’m not sure how traditional that is). Overall, it’s tasty, but I wish that it had a bit more depth of flavor and complexity. The result is definitely easy to drink and enjoyable, though—slightly lower than medium- to medium-bodied, which I think is appropriate for its weight at 5.0 percent ABV.
Verdict: Inner Darkness is malt-forward, with a rich and layered malt char-
acter supported by just the right amount of noble hop spice and bitterness. It’s highly drinkable, and sessionable as well. This is an excellent dark lager from one of my favorite local lager makers. Highly recommended.
Salt Lake Brewing - Coconut Porter: This one poured from the nitro tap a deep, mahogany-brown with that laserfine nitro khaki-colored head—nicely unfiltered with a pretty robust look to it, but that head formation and retention is money. Nose is subtle coconut and coffee-forward with some roasty malts, sweet vanilla and cocoa. I’m liking the chocolate truffle-like aspect this one possesses. It’s lightly sweet-smelling with some mocha notes, but I definitely do get some coconut in there as well. Toasted coconut is just one of those things that works perfectly with a robust porter base, and Head Brewer Jason Stock did a nice job getting it to come through but not take over.
On the tongue, I get cocoa up front, with light notes of vanilla, slight roast and espresso elements, with bits of toasty coconut in there as well. The coconut gets a bit more apparent once the beer warms up to room temperature, which makes a lot of sense to me. This porter has plenty of the base beer coming through. The feel on this is pretty solid as well, toeing the line between light bodied and eminently drinkable, with a velvety-smooth feel and only moderate nitrogen and a 5.0 percent ABV to tickle the palate.
Verdict: I’m left with a pretty nice drinking experience that would keep me coming back pint after pint. The graceful inclusion of the coconut and nitrogen takes this from a standard porter to an immensely successful drinking experience. Though it’s not a stout, I hope that this lasts until St. Patrick’s Day.
As mentioned above, Coconut Porter is only on the nitro tap, and is available at Salt Lake Brewing Company downtown. You should stay for two. Inner Darkness is available in 16-ounce cans or on Lukr
the BACK BURNER
BY ALEX SPRINGER | @captainspringer
Pepper Lunch Opens in Riverton
The fast-casual rice bowl seems to be coming back in a big way with international franchise Pepper Lunch (pepperlunchrestaurants.com). The restaurant recently opened its first Utah location, which will join a list of over 500 locations across 17 countries. The Pepper Lunch menu looks like it has a rice bowl for every occasion, including variations with kimchi, curry and seafood. I’m also seeing a few pasta dishes on the menu, all of which arrive in cute little sizzling skillets. Pepper Lunch is located in Riverton’s Mountain View Village shopping center at 13303 S. Teal Ridge Way. It’s joining a neighborhood filled with great food options, and it looks tasty enough to hold its own.
Big Dipper Opens Salt Lake Location
Park City sandwich shop Big Dipper (bigdippersandwiches.com) recently opened a second location in Salt Lake right near Library Square. This new location will be taking over the space left by Taco Taco, right on the corner of 200 East and 500 South. As the name implies, Big Dipper is all about giant sandwiches that come with complementary dips. I was already enamored with the Park City location—inventing new riffs on the French dip is a stroke of genius—so I am excited to see what sandwich-based wonders that the Salt Lake location holds. I can already tell that the raclette-topped Hunk-a Hunk-a Bernese Love will be very special to my heart.
St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl
Saint Paddy’s Day is once more upon us, and what would the holiday be without a modest little bar crawl featuring our local watering holes? Thanks to the folks at Crawl With US (crawlwith.us), you can kick off the holiday weekend with a boozy jaunt around town. The event will include a zero cover charge at participating bars, plenty of drink and food specials, festive necklaces and props, professional photographers and an afterparty to wrap things up. The St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl will kick off on March 15 at Twist Bar (32 Exchange Place) at 4 p.m. Here’s hoping y’all get lucky.
Quote of the Week: “Beer makes you feel the way you ought to feel without beer.” – Henry Lawson
Music Mailbag March 2025
New music from Shaking Paper, The Plastic Cherries and more
BY EMILEE ATKINSON eatkinson@cityweekly.net @emileelovesvinyl
As we press further into the year, the releases just keep coming. Here are some fresh tracks from excellent locals that you’ll want to add to your library ASAP.
Shaking Paper
EP, Velvet Haze: “Big things start in small spaces,” goes the tagline for folk/rock duo Shaking Paper’s debut EP, Velvet Haze. The EP includes four tracks of beautiful instrumentation and contemplative lyrics. They describe their music as “a celebration of love, connection, and the beauty of everyday moments,” and that’s captured wonderfully here. Their songs build and have wonderful layers of sound, paired with lovely vocals. Before you know it, you’ll get to the EP and wish there was more. It’s easy to listen again and again, however, and you’ll probably find yourself going back to each lovingly crafted song just one last time. Velvet Haze is an incredible debut, and hopefully we’ll get to hear more from Shaking Paper soon.
Always Her, “Timeless”: Alt/ indie rock band Always Her made a splash in 2024 with their debut track “Silhouette (The Halloween Song).” Released last fall, it came just in time for the spooky season, which lovers of the holiday surely appreciated. They were able to play at the perfectly suited Buzzards & Bees Halloween Festival that year as well. A few singles and an EP later, Always Her is back in 2025 and has more in store for listeners. Their newest single “Timeless” is described by the band as “sure to spark feelings within you, whether that’s feelings of resentment and anger to those who have wronged you, joy for those you love, and
MUSIC
most importantly, feelings of healing and being able to move on to a better place.”
The song has charming lyrics, starting off with, “She’s a timeless work of art / She’s the main attraction / In the museum of my heart / An exhibit of pure perfection.”
Words like that are sure to make anyone feel special, and hopefully the person about whom they were writing knows that as well. As the song continues, you get a fun, energetic indie/rock tune that’s easy to dance to. This is their first single of the year, and it’s easy to get hyped about. It will be exciting to see what Always Her comes up with next.
The Plastic Cherries, “Twister”: It’s hard to find the exact words to describe The Plastic Cherries and their sound—and that’s not a bad thing. They don’t fit securely in any one box, but one thing is for sure about the Cherries: They know how to have fun. Their 2024 album The Plastic Cherries on the Moon is full of a delightful mix of rock, glam, indie pop and psych elements. The group is heavily inspired by bands of yesteryear,
so you get a lot of retro sounds mixed in with modern ones. Their upcoming single “Twister” continues to draw influence from the past. “‘Twister’ is our take on a ’70s hard rock radio song. We subvert the form a bit, including a classical piano breakdown featuring our pianist Natalie Hamilton,” said guitarist Joe Maddock. “We recorded it ourselves with the help of our bassist/engineer Stephen Cox. Mastering by Carl Saff. It is the first in a string of singles we plan to release over the course of 2025 that will culminate in our third album, Pure Danger, a genre-bending suite set to range in influence from AC/DC to LCD Soundsystem.” With chugging bass, ripping guitar, ethereal vocals and punchy drums, it’s easy to get lost in “Twister.” It has the Cherries’ signature fun and lighthearted sound paired with incredible musical skills. Don’t miss “Twister” when it blows in on Friday, March 28.
Richard Tyler Epperson, “Hold You in My Arms”: Later this year, singer/songwriter Richard Tyler Epperson is set to release a new album, Fragmented
Night. He’s released a few songs so far from the album, the latest being “Hold You in My Arms.” As always with Epperson, the track is full of sincere and intense emotionality. It starts slow and builds into a beautiful ballad detailing love, loss and the unrelenting desire to make things right. Epperson’s ability to tell a story with his music is incredible, and it will be a treat to hear the story of the album as a whole once it releases. According to Epperson, this new album features some of the most personal tracks he’s ever written. Loaded with emotional themes that display his signature array of colorful sound and his gift for creating moments that speak straight to the heart, the set of 10 songs on Fragmented Night highlights the most professional and polished music he’s ever made. Right now, you can listen to “Hold You in My Arms” as well as a few other singles from the album, but you’ll have to wait until May for the rest of it.
That doesn’t cover all of the great new releases for March, but it’s an excellent place to start. Take a listen and let the music comfort you, because the world may be crazy, but at least there’s always great local music to fall back on. CW
THIS WEEKEND
ST.PATRICK’S WEEKEND
DJ CELLY CEL & FRIENDS TAKEOVER
THURSDAY, MAR. 13
DJ YU3N
FRIDAY, MAR. 14
DJ KING
SATURDAY, MAR. 15
DJ CELLY CELL
MONDAY, MARCH 17
ST. PATRICK’S DAY SHENANIGANS!
St
Patrick's St
Patrick's
MUSIC PICKS
flipturn @ The Complex 3/13
FRI. MARCH 14
9PM RED SHOT PONY SAT. MARCH 15
NOON- 3PM NOON- 3PM NATHAN SPENSER AND MARK CHANEY
3PM - 6PM 3PM - 6PM GENERATIONS BAND
6PM- 9PM 6PM- 9PM RED SHOT PONY
9PM - CLOSE DJ GEOVANTE
SUN. MARCH 16
7PM
NOON- 3PM NATHAN SPENSER AND MARK CHANEY
3PM - 7PM GENERATIONS BAND
ADULT TRIVIA MON. MARCH 17
8PM- 12AM RED SHOT PONY
Launched in Fernandina Beach, Florida in 2015, flipturn has gone on to become a popular force in indie rock. They’re noteworthy for a few reasons that have helped them stand out in the scene. First, the group’s sound combines surf and alt-rock, delivered in the form of lush melodies with heartfelt and introspective lyrics. Additionally, the band’s spirited live shows emphasize crowd involvement. Early releases like the 2017 Heavy Colors EP and singles like “Churches” (2018) helped build a solid fanbase, and flipturn’s genre-blurring style has led to recognition from critics and fans alike. Released in January, the group’s latest album Burnout Days is highlighted by “Sunlight,” a catchy tune with a very personal subject: lead singer Dillon Basse’s mom’s struggles with alcohol addiction. But what could have been a melodramatic or dour song is, in flipturn’s capable hands, a heartfelt, inspiring work that takes a clear-eyed look at a topic that’s all too familiar. With a wellearned reputation for authenticity and relatability, flipturn has steadily built presence on streaming platforms, and positive reviews from publications suggest they’re only just getting started. Flipturn comes to The Complex on Thursday, March 13 at 8 p.m.; Krooked Kings open this all-ages show. Tickets are $35 and available from thecomplexslc.com. (Bill Kopp)
UPCOMING SHOWS
Dawn of Ouroboros
Lesser Care
Wasatch Food Co-op Benefit Show
Quinn The Brain
Strawberry Lunch Worn Tin
MUSIC PICKS
Delain, Xandria @ Metro Music Hall 3/14
Delain are the epitome of metal. While the aesthetics of most things on the dark and pompous spectrum of rock are stuck in a rather naïve mindset, it’s worth noting that Delain have had major lineup changes, and took albums upon albums to perfect their operatic feel. The “build-’em-up-and-knock-’em-down” attitude of the current music climate makes it hard for bands like this to thrive. Just ask founding member Martijn Westerholt, while he was searching for a new vocalist to add strength to their sound: “I was just considering all options. I simply wanted a good voice that would fit Delain, and also considered male vocals, but that would have been very different and difficult for people to compare,” he told AtTheBarrier.com . “On the other hand, it really needed to fit Delain, and one condition for the band to continue [is that] a lot of the DNA must be there and it must sound like Delain.” In 2022, Diana Leah joined the band as the new lead singer. She rocks as if possessed, adding a soul-searing personal touch and emotionally insightful lyrics. Delain’s revamped roster also includes Ronald Landa on guitar, Ludovico Cioffi on bass and Sander Zoer on drums. Their latest EP, Dance with the Devil, will reignite your passion for symphonic metal as it boasts great musicianship, complex arrangements and catchy melodies. They are a band that has to be seen live. Xandria opens. Catch them at Metro Music Hall on Thursday, Mar 13, doors at 7 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ show are $25 at 24tix.com. (Mark Dago)
MUSIC PICKS
Evan Honer @ Soundwell 3/14
“I’m trying to release stuff that is real, and the music industry is so delayed as far as releasing songs, that I feel like I’ve given myself a little bit of an edge. I don’t have to go through months of convincing a label to release a song,” singer/songwriter Evan Honer told Rolling Stone in February. Honer detailed how he has opted to release his music independently, so as to not be beholden to labels who take too long to get his work out into the world. He created his own label, Cloverdale Records, and released two EPs titled Different Life and Annabelle, as well as his LP Fighting For. His latest single, “Everything I Wanted,” embodies Honer’s unmistakable lyricism but also marks a bold shift in the singer-songwriter’s sound as he embraces a heavier, electric-driven approach unlike anything he’s released before. The energetic and lively pop/rock sound is equal parts exciting and comforting. Honer’s voice is full of emotionality, and the lyrics are sincere. Throw a rockin’ guitar solo in the middle, and you’ve got the makings of a great song. Catch Evan Honer at Soundwell Friday, March 14 at 8 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $25 and can be found at soundwellslc.com, although they were sold out at press time. (Emilee Atkinson)
Bonnie X Clyde @ The Marquis 3/15
Looking for a night out dancing? The Marquis in Park City is hosting the electropop/synthpop/house/trap music duo Bonnie X Clyde. That might sound like a complicated combination, but it can be summed up better by their signature “vocal bass.” Vocalist and producer Paige Lopynski (Bonnie) and producer Daniel Litman (Clyde) have been friends since high school in Fairfax County, Virginia, and have risen to the top of the electronic music world. From their early hits in 2016 like “Rise Above” and “Bass Jam” (which rose to #1 on Sirius XM) to their more recent songs like the crowd favorite “Love is killing me (Helion Remix)” as well as “Another You” and “In Too Deep” from their Tears in Paradise album released in 2023, Lopynski’s silky, smooth vocals grace nearly every track in their discography, com-
bined with clean and polished production.
Like the notorious outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, Lopynski and Litman often wear bandanas covering their faces to evoke a similar sense of infamy, partnership and a somewhat rebellious image. It’s bound to be a fun show, with a 360-degree set giving the audience a chance to be further immersed in the sound. General admission costs $25 for Bonnie X Clyde at The Marquis on Saturday, March 15. More exclusive tickets for the Sky Deck cost $60. Doors open at 9 p.m. Go to tixr.com to purchase tickets and for more event info. (Arica Roberts)
Sue Foley @ The State Room 3/15
Like Susan Tedeschi, Ana Popovic, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Samantha Fish and Larkin Poe, Sue Foley has helped confirm the fact that being a guitar-slinger ought not be considered strictly a man’s game. Far from it, in fact, given that women basking in the blues is a tradition that goes back to the very birth of that genre. Nevertheless, it takes a dedicated artist with the right instincts and integrity to gain the attention that’s so decidedly deserved. Inspired by the Rolling Stones—a macho bunch if ever there was one—Foley picked up guitar at age 13, and by the time she was 21, found herself signed to a record label and recording her debut album, appropriately titled Young Girl Blues. Now a four-time Blues Music Award winner, she specializes in high-energy roadhouse blues, as deftly expressed on her new album: One Guitar Woman, a set of songs paying tribute to the women who pioneered acoustic blues guitar. It’s hardly surprising that the record was a 2025 Grammy Award nominee for Traditional Blues Album, and is currently up for a prestigious Juno Award and a Blues Music Award for Best Acoustic Blues Album. The kudos don’t stop there; she’s nominated once again for the Koko Taylor Traditional Blues Female Artist Award, an honor given her in 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2020. Credit her with consistency.
The Utah Blues Society Presents Sue Foley 8 p.m., Saturday, March 15. Tickets for the ages 21+ show cost $32-$58 (plus taxes and fees) at axs.com. (Lee Zimmerman)
Bonnie X Clyde
free will ASTROLOGY
BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
What can you do to show how much you care about everyone and everything that deserves your love? Now is a fantastic time to unleash a flood of gratitude and appreciation that takes very practical forms. Don’t just beam warm and fuzzy feelings toward your favorite people and animals, in other words. Offer tangible blessings that will actually enhance their lives. Find your own personally meaningful ways to nourish all that nourishes you.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Ancient Egyptians loved the color blue. The mineral azurite and the semiprecious stones turquoise and lapis lazuli satisfied their fascination to some degree, but were rare and difficult to work with. So the Egyptians decided to fabricate their own pigment. After extensive experimentation, using copper, silica and lime, they succeeded. The hue they made is known as Egyptian blue. I heartily endorse a comparable process for you in the coming weeks, Taurus. Identify the experience, substance or feeling you really, really want more of, and then resolve to get as much of it as you really, really want.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
Dandelions germinate quickly and grow fast. Because of deep taproots, they are hardy. Once they establish their presence in a place, they persist. Dandelions are adaptable, too, able to grow anywhere their seeds land, even from cracks in concrete. Their efficient dispersal is legendary. They produce large quantities of lightweight seeds that are easily carried by the wind. Bees love dandelions in the spring when there are few other flowers yet to provide them with nectar. I propose we make the dandelion your symbol of power in the coming weeks, Gemini. Be like them! (PS: They are also beautiful in an unostentatious way.)
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
About 36,000 years ago, humans created remarkable drawings in the Cave of Altamira, located in what we now call Spain. When an early discoverer of the art published his findings in 1880, he was met with derision. Experts accused him of forgery, saying such beautiful and technically proficient works could not have been made by ancient people, who just weren’t that smart. Eventually, though, the art was proved to be genuine. I propose we meditate on this as a metaphor for your life. It’s possible that your abilities may be underestimated, even by you. Hidden potentials and unexpressed capacities may be close to ripening, but they will need your full confidence and boldness. Don’t let skepticism, either from your inner critic or others, hold you back.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
In 1977, NASA launched two Voyager probes to study our solar system’s outer planets. Their original mission was designed to last a few years. But in 2025, they still continue to send back useful information from the great beyond, far past Uranus and Neptune and into interstellar space. I suspect that now is also a good time for you Leos to seek valuable information from adventures you began years ago. Even if those past experiences have not yielded relevant revelations recently, they may soon do so. Be alert for ways to harvest new riches from old memories.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
About 3,775 years ago, a Babylonian man named Nanni wrote a crabby letter to Ea-nasir, a merchant who had sold him substandard copper ingots. Nanni was also upset that his servant was treated rudely. It is the oldest customer complaint in history. With this as our touchstone, I remind you that maintaining high standards is always crucial for your long-term success. Others may be tempted to cut corners, but your natural integrity is one of your superpowers. Please redouble your commitment to providing highest value, Virgo. And ask for it from others, too.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Blogger Yukiko Kisaki writes about the Japanese concept of ma. She says it’s “the emptiness full of possibilities, like
a promise yet to be fulfilled. It’s the purposeful pauses in a speech that make words stand out; the quiet time we all need to make our busy lives meaningful; the silence between the notes that make the music.” According to my analysis, Libra, you will be wise to make ma a central theme in the coming weeks. I invite you to research the power of pauses. Rather than filling up every gap, allow space for pregnant blankness. Trust that in being open to vacancy, you will make room for unexpected riches.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
The literal meaning of the Japanese word yohen is “kiln mutation.” It refers to a type of glaze that undergoes unpredictable variations in color when baked in a kiln. The finished pottery that emerges displays patterns and hues that are blends of the artist’s intention and accidental effects created by the heat. I would love to see you carry out metaphorical versions of yohen in the coming weeks, Scorpio. Suggested meditations: 1. Collaborate to create beauty with energies that aren’t entirely manageable; 2. Undertake projects that require both careful preparation and a willingness to adapt to shifting conditions; 3. Engage with opportunities that will have the best outcomes if you relinquish some control.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
A big party is underway in your astrological House of SelfUnderstanding and Self-Definition. The near future will be a time to discover yourself in greater depth and bring your identity into clearer focus. I see this mostly as a task for you to carry out in intimate conversation with yourself. It’s also fine to solicit the feedback of allies who have insight into your nature, but I urge you to rely heavily on your private investigations. How can you deepen your knowledge of the reasons you are here on earth? Can you learn more about your dormant potentials? Who are you, exactly?
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.19)
Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe Bikila was selected by his country to compete in the 1960 Rome Olympics. But the honor was offered shortly before the games began, and he had to scramble to get there in time. When he arrived for the main event, he couldn’t find any running shoes in local stores that fit comfortably. So he decided to go barefoot for the 26.2-mile race. Success! He won, setting a new world-record time. I propose we make him your role model, Capricorn. May he inspire you to respond to an apparent scarcity or deficiency by calling on earthy alternatives. May you adjust to a problem by deepening your reliance on your natural self.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
After being part of two journeys to Antarctica, Aquarian explorer Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922) assembled a team to try what no one had ever done: crossing the entire continent on foot with pack dogs and motorized sledges. But the proposed 1,800-mile expedition failed soon after it began. That’s when Shackleton did what he is most famous for. His leadership during the harrowing struggle to survive became legendary. I don’t think you will face anything remotely resembling his challenges in the coming weeks. But I suspect that your response to tests and trials will define your success. As you encounter obstacles, you will treat them as opportunities to showcase your resourcefulness and adaptability. You will inspire others to summon resiliency, and you will bring out their best as together you engage in creative problem-solving. Trials will become triumphs.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
I’m not exactly sure where you are going, Pisces, but I’m certain you are headed in the right direction. Your instincts for self-love are at a peak. Your ability to see your best possible future is lucid and strong. Your commitment to gracefully serving all that gracefully serves you is passionate and rigorous. I will congratulate you in advance for locating the exact, robust resources you need, not mediocre resources that are only half-interesting.
Web & Android App Developer (VINEYARD, UT) Develop and maintain Android applications using Kotlin, implementing features for checking inventory levels & tracking historical data of inventory transactions. Design, develop, and maintain web-based financial tools for the company’s financial team, using Oracle Integration Cloud, PHP, JavaScript, and MySQL to record & manage transactional data for client services. Optimize SQL queries to enhance performance & security for extracting inventory records. 40hrs/wk, Offered wage: $75,691/yr, Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related required. Resume to Nutricost Manufacturing, LLC Attn. Yoon KIM, 351 E 1750 N, VINEYARD, UT 84059
key intrnl business stkeholdrs on criticl bsnss data inititiaves & rportng rqrmnts. Undrstnd bsnss fnctnal needs & supprt by bldng strctrd pipelins. Reqs a Mstr’s deg or frgn eqvlnt in Informatn Systms, Informatn Tchnolgy, Comp Scnc or Engg or rltd & 3 yrs of exp in job offrd or as a Data Anlyst, Sftwre Engnr, Data modeler, Systm Anlyst, or rltd. Altrnatvly, ER will acpt a Bchlr’s deg & 6 yrs of prgrssvly rspnsibl exp. Qlfyng exp mst inclde at lst 1 yr with each of the follwng: Python scripting language; AWS cloud services; Oracle; MySQL; Data Analytics Dashboarding (Tableau or DOMO); SQL Scripts and Stored Procedures. Rte of pay: $156,104 - $184,000/ yr. ER wil acpt any suitbl combinatn of edu, trainng, or exp. Tlecommtng and/or WFH may be permissble prsuant to cmpny policies. Trvl about 2-4 times a yr for bsnss meetngs in Mastercard/ Finicity locatn to discuss Dsgns, recve trainngs, & particpte in confrncs. Max 4 wks a year US dmstc. Snd resume to Jake Vacanti, Jake.Vacanti@ mastercard.com, 225 Franklin St. 9th Fl, Boston MA 02110. Ref MC174-2024.
Regional Digital Marketing Specialist(Provo, UT) Develop & execute digital marketing strategies for Korean market. Create & manage ad campaigns. Conduct market research to identify trends, customer behavior, and competitor analysis, and improve marketing campaigns & activities. 40hrs/ wk, Offered wage: $67,621/ yr, Associate’s Degree in General Studies / Marketing / Business or related, 1 yr of experience as Digital Marketer or related, and Proficiency in the Korean language are required. Certificate of Digital Marketing or related is preferred. Resume to Hall Labs, LLC Attn: David Hall, 3500 S MOUNTAIN VISTA PKWY, #2, PROVO, UT 84606
urban LIVING
WITH BABS DELAY Broker, Urban Utah Homes & Estates, urbanutah.com
In and Out
People love to know what is the hottest thing in home décor and home improvements. Surprisingly enough, gray is out!
That’s right, gray flooring and carpet is on its way out, according to designers and fashionistas.
For the past few years, plastic/PVC/ LVP-type flooring that is printed to resemble wood has been all the rage, but the color scheme has moved this year to more tans and natural wood colors, with soft neutral accents.
Next would be “barn doors” inside homes. It was a cute idea for a minute, but barn doors are for barns and are a cheap way for builders to close off rooms rather than pay for solid wood doors or pocket doors.
The feeling of “warmth” is back, and things like grass cloth wallpaper, exposed brick and quiet luxury help to create a home refuge these days. “Grommet-style” curtain rods and drapes are cheap and they look it. Upgrade if you can!
Statement wallpaper is still a thing, with bold designs like enlarged photos of flowers to bring big color into a room. And “mindful maximalism” is in, with people displaying their odd collections in unusual ways, on and around unique furniture pieces.
After the horrific fires in California and Maui, sustainable and fire-resistant materials are in the minds of home builders and buyers like never before, as is using landscaping as a buffer for potential infernos. It’s worth reviewing your trees and brushes for fire safety.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
ACROSS
1. Aromatic resin
7. Pose the question
10. Letters before gees
14. “Like sands through the hourglass, so ___ days of our lives ...”
15. “Got it!”
16. Spread on a BLT
17. Remain aboard
18. Negative responses
19. Almond shade
20. Boxer Liston and his new constitution?
23. German article
24. Looking with no subtlety
25. 157.5 deg. from N
26. Luau garland
27. Take care of
30. ___ Rafferty, “Baker Street” singer
32. Accept, like a coupon
33. Mixed drink with gin, vermouth, cheese, vegetables, and pastry crust?
36. Speechify
37. Groan-inducing
38. Malbec, for one
39. “Celebrity Jeopardy!” winner Barinholtz
40. Swab the deck
43. Hang on the line
47. “Brave New World” happiness drug
48. Scottish player who’s a hit at all festivities?
52. Tiger noise, to the under-2 set
53. It may be tapped
54. Palindromic 1976 greatest hits album with the track “Ma-Ma-Ma Belle”
55. Jai ___ (fast game)
56. Noteworthy stretch
57. Having an outer layer, like fruit
58. Tailless domestic cat
59. Shortest Morse code unit
60. Like some beer or bread
DOWN
1. Low end of the choir
We are so lucky here in Utah to not have had such horrific fire disasters, but the clock is ticking in some areas of our state, waiting for that one lightning strike, that one careless campfire, to create havoc.
We just spent a small fortune to have our trees—and the neighbors’ trees that poked over our fence—cut back. Another neighbor spent $7,000 to have a dead tree removed, as nowadays, they use cranes to help take them out and those machines cost a fortune to rent.
But now, we have a cleaner landscape and hopefully our homeowner’s insurance won’t jump up too high this year. Also, we put in an emergency Generac generator after we lost power for nine days a few years back.
The lovely machine clicks on once a week to test itself and when there’s an outage, it clicks right over so that there’s really no interruption in electricity at our place.
Solar panels have come down in price. But with the new government tariffs going into place, they may skyrocket in cost, as many panel types are made in China.
It’s not so much about how a home looks these days, but how it feels. There’s nothing more off-putting when selling a home than having it vacant and dirty. We recommend that 90% of our listings be deep cleaned and staged so that when buyers walk in, they smile and feel comfortable in the space.
Remember to make the home “neutral” for potential buyers so they can see themselves living there! n
11. Something proven
12. ___ Festival 2 (recently announced sequel to a 2017 disaster)
13. Like some gummy candies
21. Irish actor Kristian of “Our Flag Means Death”
22. “Training Day” director Fuqua
26. Calligraphy introduction?
28. Classic Japanese drama form
29. Beats creator
30. International auto race
31. Puppy sound
32. Peachy keen
33. Trim a lawn
34. Melber of MSNBC
2. Belgian beer Stella ___
3. Grayson who was the title character in the Apple TV+ thriller “Servant”
4. “Funny Girl” composer Jule
5. Nautical hello
6. Collection of animals
7. Restaurant chain with root beer floats
8. Jolt
9. Healthy cereal brand
10. Reason for a siren
35. 1/20th of a ream
40. Bikes with engines
41. Egg dish (in this economy?)
42. Yankovic genre
44. Annoyed
45. Prefix before dactyl
Last week’s answers
Complete the grid so that each row, column, diagonal and 3x3 square contain all of the numbers 1 to
No math is involved. The grid has numbers, but nothing has to add up to anything else. Solve
46. Use a shovel on
47. Cathedral city of Tuscany
48. Airport people mover
49. Hi, in Hidalgo
50. Actor McGregor
51. “Swan Lake” bend
Awwwwww
NEWS of the WEIRD
BY
Looking for love? If you’re in Dodauer Forest in northern Germany, then you’re in luck. The Associated Press reported on March 4 about the Bridegroom’s Oak, a 500-year-old tree that has served as a mailbox for the lovelorn for over a century. The custom originated with a couple whose relationship was opposed by the woman’s father; they left messages for each other in the tree’s knothole and eventually married in 1892. Here’s how it works: People send a letter (address: Bräutigamseiche, Dodauer Forest, 23701 Eutin, Germany), and the postmaster delivers it to the tree. Visitors can climb a 10-foot ladder to retrieve a few letters, leaf through them and choose a pen pal. “The resulting pen pal relationships have even led to a few marriages,” noted the postal service.
Bright Idea
James Coxall, 42, of Castle Camps, a village in Cambridgeshire, England, was sick of driving around— and sometimes driving into—an 8-foot-long, 4-inchdeep pothole that had been in the road for more than a year, The Washington Post reported. So Coxall, a carpenter, repurposed a pair of jeans his daughter had grown out of, filling the legs with wood and old shirts and attaching some shoes at the hems. Then he fashioned an anchor to hold the contraption upright—or upside down, as it were—and put it in the pothole, so that it looked like someone was head-down in the hole. He thought it might spur some action on the hole, and indeed, on Feb. 27, the county filled the hole. “They fixed the hole,” Coxall said. “They just got another several million to do in Cambridgeshire.”
Questionable Judgment
Newsweek reported on March 5 that a Reddit post has blown up. The post details a stunt that landed a man and his brother-in-law in small claims court over medical bills of more than $2,000. While the poster was napping in a hammock with his shirt off, his BIL filled his navel with super glue, he said. When he awoke, the glue was dry, and he was hesitant to aggressively try to remove it because of scars from an earlier gall bladder surgery. The BIL “thought it was funny right up until we left for the emergency room,” the poster wrote. But after the BIL wouldn’t cover his medical bills, the poster won in court. “This has caused a major rift in my family,” he wrote. “My wife is upset, and her family thinks I overreacted.” But Redditers are on his side: “This was straight-up malicious. This wasn’t a prank,” one wrote.
Irony
CTV News recently reported that three framed paintings were stolen from St. Andrew’s Church in Little Steeping, England, on Feb. 23. One of the missing items was a painting of the Lord’s Prayer; the second depicted Moses delivering the Ten Commandments; and the third illustrated the commandments—including “Thou Shalt Not Steal.” While the church was unclear about the value of the paintings, they held “sentimental” value to the parishioners.
Animal Antics
Aimee Preece of Carrick, Australia, got up from bed to let her dogs out in early March, then decided to make a bathroom stop, ABC News reported on March 5. But while she was relieving herself, a Tasmanian devil ran into the bathroom, chased by the dogs, and hid behind the toilet. “I’ve never seen one that close,” Preece said. She trapped the animal in the bathroom, then got on social media for help. Olivia Dykstra, a catcher of snakes (and other critters), responded, using a snake bag and a broom to wrangle the devil. The bathroom didn’t fare so well: “There was nothing in that bathroom that had not been upset, kicked off shelves, you name it,” Dykstra said. She delivered the devil to an area where they’re often sighted.
Weird Science
Li Zhang, a professor of physiology and neuroscience at the University of Southern California, has authored a study showing that laboratory mice would leap into action to help their companions who were incapacitated, NPR reported on March 2. Their behavior included biting the unconscious mouse, biting its tongue and licking its eyes—and “eventually pulling the tongue out of the mouth of this unconscious one” to clear its airway, Zhang said. The response was much stronger for mice that had been caged together for a long time, he said.
Saw That Coming
Jordan Dove, 34, of Lugoff, South Carolina, and his daughter stopped by his uncle’s home in Saint Matthews, South Carolina, on Feb. 24 to check on it, WISTV reported. The uncle, Alfonzo Brown, is incarcerated in Maryland. But as they approached the front door, the daughter said, they heard sounds “similar to fireworks,” and she noticed her father had been shot. Thomas Summers, the Calhoun County sheriff, said Brown had booby-trapped his home by screwing a shotgun inside the home, pointed toward the door. “He knew he would be on the run, he knew that he would be tracked back to Calhoun County, he knew that we would be coming out to get him, and I think he set it up for us,” Summers said. Unfortunately, his nephew died at the hospital. Summers said Brown would be charged with murder and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. “This is a horrible thing, a horrible thing,” Summers said.
Great Art
■ When performance artist Marco Evaristti installed three piglets in a cage as an art installation in Copenhagen, he was hoping to raise awareness of the suffering caused by mass meat production in Denmark, Sky News reported on March 6. The piglets were being denied food and water and were intended to starve to death in the show, called “And Now You Care.” But animal rights activists, assisted by Evaristti’s friend Caspar Steffensen, stole the pigs from the exhibition. “I was very disappointed when Caspar told me ... that he was involved in the theft,” Evaristti said. “But then I thought about it for a few hours and realized that at least this way, the piglets would have a happy life.” The artist said he’ll revive the exhibition but will try to get dead piglets from meat processing plants and present them to the public. “I want to display them in a transparent refrigerator,” he said. “I’m willing to pay a high price.”
■ At the Goldin auction house in Runnemede, New Jersey, a Cheeto shaped like the Pokemon Charizard sold on March 2 for $72,000, the Associated Press reported. The “3-inch-long Flamin’ Hot Cheeto ... affixed to a customized Pokemon card and encapsulated in a clear card storage box” was discovered and preserved sometime between 2018 and 2022. Sixty people bid on the item. Sixty.
Surprise!
Dean Harrison and two of his friends were fishing on his open-top boat on Feb. 28 when a 900-pound bottlenose dolphin crashed onto the 16-foot vessel, the Associated Press reported. The men were along the far north coast of New Zealand’s North Island when they saw dolphins playing nearby. “This one decided to jump on board and say hello,” Harrison said. The 11-foot-long dolphin’s wild movements snapped “every single fishing rod we had in the boat,” Harrison said, and severely damaged the bow. The animal was stuck, so the men alerted New Zealand’s conservation agency, which directed them to a boat ramp an hour away. While they motored toward help, they kept the dolphin wet with a hose and a towel. At the ramp, members of the Maori tribe prayed for the dolphin, which they named Tohu, which means “sign.” Harrison has also renamed his boat Tohu.
